Paul danckwardt



(No Model.)

. P. DANGKWARDT. APPARATUS FOR EXTRAGTING GOLD AND SILVER FROM ORE.

Patented Sept. 1, 1896.

m: cams PETER co. PHOTO-LUNG msummou, 0 cv UNIT D STATES PATENT QFFICE.

PAUL DANCKWARDT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRO- OYANIDE GOLD AND SILVER EXTRACTING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

APPARATUS FOR EXTRACTING GOLD AND SILVER FROM ORE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 566,894, dated September 1, 1896. Application filed June 8, 1896. Serial No. 594,633. (No model.)

To all whom it 12mg concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL DANOKWARDT, a citizen of Germany, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for EX- tracting Gold and Silver from Ore, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus designed for extracting gold and silver from ores or like compounds by means of the combined action of a solvent and an electric current. The apparatus is made with a view of obtaining simplicityin construction and manipulation and for effecting a thorough extraction of the precious metal.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an end view of the apparatus, and Fig. 4 a detail perspective view of one of the anodes d.

The letter (1 represents a barrel or cylindrical vessel composed,preferably,of iron and adapted to be rotated from power-shaft b by wheels I) a. The heads a of the cylinder, if made of iron, are lined with the Wooden or insulating bottom 0. To these bottoms there are secured by bolts 6 the flanged ends d of a number of longitudinal metal strips or blades 01, constituting the anodes. These blades are arranged around the entire circumference of the cylinder, but are set at a distance and are insulated therefrom. This insulation is effected, first, by the wooden bottom 0, and, secondly, by means of asbestos or similar washers f, interposed between the head of the bolts 6 and the outer sides of the heads 0?. The blades cl are placed at an inclination to the inner surface of the cylinder at, so that such blades overlap one another at their sides or edges, Fig. 2, and collectively protect the amalgamated surface of the cylinder against scraping contact with the ore, thus greatly prolonging the life of such surface. The blades should be perforated to permit the small heavy particles of the pulp, among which principally is the free gold, to pass by gravity through the blades and to come directly into contact with the amalgam 5o without using up any cyanid from its solution.

To the outside of one of the heads a there is secured, by the bolts e, a copper disk g, which is insulated from its head a by the washers f and is engaged by the spring-contact h, leading to the plus pole of the battery. The second contact 1', leading to the minus pole of the battery, engages directly the outer surface of the cylinder Ct. The inner surface of the cylinder Ct is made either smooth or corrugated and is provided with a lining j of amalgamated sheet copper, which constitutes the cathode. A number of serrated wooden or insulating rings m serve to support the body of the blades 01 between their ends and to prevent them from being bent outwardly or in to contact with the cathode.

In use the pulverized ore or like compound (tailings, residues, scrap metal, 850.) is introduced into the apparatus through the manhole 7t, together with a solution of some cyanid salt or some other solvent for the gold or silver. The manhole-cover is then closed and the cylinder rotated,-while a constant current of electricity under low tension is turned on. This current will cause the precious metal to be dissolved at the anodes d and to be deposited upon the amalgamated cathode 7'. After the apparatus has been ro- 8o tated for several hours all or nearly all of the gold or silver will be deposited upon the amalgamated copper lining in the form of amalgam. It is removed from time to time by scraping to be retorted, and the alloy is smelted; but, if desired, working maybe continued with a large number of new charges without removing the amalgam, as the large surface of the cathode, especially upon the addition of some fresh mercury, is capable of taking up a very considerable quantity of gold and silver.

For the purpose of cleaningthe apparatus the blades d are first removed through an opening Z, the apparatus is washed out, and the amalgam is scraped from the copper lining to be retorted. The copper lining is then reamalgam ated and the blades are reinserted,

having an amalgamated copper lining with 15 non-conducting bottoms, a series of inclined perforated metal strips secured to such bottoms, insulating-rings that sustain the bodies of such strips, and with electric connections that communicate with the barrel and the strips, substantially as specified.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 4th day of June, A. D. 1896.

7 PAUL DANCKlVARDT.

Vitnesses:

F. v. BRIESEN, WILLIAM SCHULZ. 

